Tag: beauty

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that my skin is constantly changing and so is my skincare routine. I love rotating the face masks that I use based on the season and select masks in the winter that will hydrate and clear my complexion. These are the three masks that I apply weekly to maintain clear skin!

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

I am a devoted fan of Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask but never tried the brand’s Water Sleeping Mask until receiving a sample at Sephora. After a single use, I fell in love with the mask. While this mask didn’t directly reduce my breakouts it adds an extra punch of moisture into my skin to leave it feeling soft, plump, and hydrated. I apply this mask every Sunday to give my skin a boost of hydration and even out any texture.

Olehenriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask

This detoxifying and cooling mask from Olehenriksen not only has a fun mint-green appearance, but it also clears my acne-prone skin. With each use, the mask works to minimize the appearance of blemishes on the surface of my skin. I typically experience oiliness throughout my t-zone, and this mask works wonders to reduce excess oil!

Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask

Clinique’s Moisture Surge Overnight Mask is oil-free and has a creamy texture to retain moisture in the skin. I use this mask overnight to give my skin a more hydrated, dewy appearance. This mask works to restore and rebalance the moisture barrier in my skin and gently exfoliates any dryness while I sleep!

Anastasia Beverly Hills released another eyeshadow palette as a part of the brand’s 2018 holiday collection. When I first saw the colour story within this palette, I was instantly drawn to it. Unlike other palettes from the brand, this one has the most unique selection of shimmer shades, which was a key selling point for me. This is a completely cool-toned palette and ideal for creating winter-ready eyeshadow looks!

The Packaging

Out of every Anastasia Beverly Hills palette, this one has the most beautiful packaging. The palette comes in the brand’s standard 14-pan cardboard package. Inside the palette is a dual-ended brush and the eyeshadows. This palette’s beauty comes from the gorgeous sparkly rose-gold packaging.

The Shadows

What drew me to this palette is the cool-toned shadow selection. I love that this combination of colours is perfect for the holidays or winter in general! The matte shadows are soft and buttery. They apply easily to the eyelid and have no fallout or patchiness. Each of the shimmer shadows are pigmented, bright and smooth. I’ve applied the shimmer shadows with both a brush and my fingertips and noticed no difference in pigmentation between the two methods.

The Shades

This palette contains a variety of smoky, bright, and glittery shades:

Fresh – Matte ivory

Pearl – Metallic pearl-white with a soft pink undertone

Steampunk – Metallic bronze with topaz flecks

Rose Quartz – Metallic soft peach with a pink shift

Ember – Metallic bronzed khaki

Bloom – Matte coral-pink

Birch – Matte mid-tone yellow taupe

Cinder – Metallic cool-tone beige taupe with gold flecks

Twig – Matte cool-toned taupe

Teak – Metallic golden-brown

Dystopian – Matte dark brown

Cyborg – Metallic silver with a violet undertone

Slate – Matte slate-grey

Noir – Matte black

Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Eyeshadow Palette contains an ideal combination of smoky and sparkly eyeshadow shades that are perfect for the season! I adore the versatility and wear of the shadows. If you are looking for an eyeshadow palette that is wearable for daytime, nighttime or holiday-party looks, I’d definitely recommend this one. Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Palette retails for $59 at Sephora.

Red lipstick is a makeup chameleon. The shade is classic and can transform any modern, edgy, bright, or romantic makeup look. Despite the beauty of red lipstick, it can be a pain to apply thanks to feathering, smudging or streakiness. If you’re planning to rock a red lip this season, here are a few tips you need to know!

Powder the lips to prevent feathering

This is a unique trick that I rely on when my lip liner is running low. To prevent feathering or bleeding lipstick, apply powder to the lips before applying lip colour. The powder gives the lipstick a base to adhere to which helps the colour stay in place.

Prep your lips first

Red lipstick adheres best to smooth and hydrated lips. Apply a lip scrub to exfoliate, then follow up with a balm to hydrate before selecting your favourite shade of red to ensure maximum colour payoff.

Apply a lip liner that matches your lipstick shade

Red lipstick is not forgiving when it comes to lines or mistakes. If your lipstick bleeds often, apply a lip liner to your pout to prevent lipstick from fading or emphasizing lines or texture.

We all know the importance of maintaining a skincare routine, but what happens when your skin still breaks out despite the care you give it? For all of you who suffer from acne and blemishes, I empathize with you because I continue to experience regular breakouts! Before you toss your beloved skincare products, check in with yourself! The causes of your breakouts may not be what you imagined. Here are four surprising reasons why your skin continues to breakout:

You don’t change your pillowcase regularly

Just like your cell phone, your pillowcase can contain bacteria that causes breakouts. Even if you wash your face every night before bed, the natural oils from your hair and skin can accumulate on your pillowcase. Once they build up over time, they lead to breakouts. Pillowcases should be changed or washed weekly to keep them clean.

You skip moisturizing

It took me a long time to realize that moisturizer is actually good for my acne-prone skin. It is easy to assume that too much oil causes breakouts, but this actually is not true. Excessively cleansing the skin removes natural oils, causing rebound dryness that can further irritate acne. Applying moisturizer reintroduces natural oil back into the skin and balances it.

You never clean your makeup brushes

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? It is important to clean all your beauty tools at least once a week to prevent makeup, oil, and bacteria from causing breakouts. If you don’t have a fancy makeup brush cleaner, a small amount of water and soap will do the trick!

I love trying new products to hydrate my skin during the winter months. I recently bought a travel-sized jar of Laneige’s Water Sleeping Mask and immediately incorporated it into my weekly skincare routine. I’ve loved every Laneige product I’ve tried, and this unique mask is no exception!

The Packaging

The first word that comes to mind when I view the packaging is calming. The mask comes in a rounded jar that is a gorgeous pale blue. The jar bears the Laneige logo and is lightweight and travel-friendly. I love that it is lightweight and can be easily carried in a purse.

The Mask

The mask is lightweight and hydrating. It feels cooling when applied to the skin and does not dry down completely. It smells faintly of fresh flowers, owing to the orange flower, rose and sandalwood that the mask is infused with. After wearing the mask overnight, my skin feels supple, smooth and hydrated. A small amount of the mask goes a long way, and you only need to apply a few dabs to the skin to achieve the full effect of the mask.

How to use it

I apply this mask 2-3 times per week. I apply it evenly to my face and leave it on overnight. I then rinse the remaining residue the next morning and apply a moisturizer to lock-in hydration from the mask. It absorbs into the skin without feeling sticky.

Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask is a unique product to add to your skincare routine. It is hydrating, easy to use, and lightweight. The mask leaves my skin soft and plump after each use. Laneige’s Water Sleeping Mask retails for $33 at Sephora.

We all love online shopping – it’s convenient, a timesaver and easy. Whether you are a seasoned online shopper or completely new to the phenomenon, it is a common activity in our modern society. With the holiday season approaching, online shopping is becoming more prevalent. Here are my top tips for the best online shopping experience!

Subscribe to mailing lists

Receiving continuous e-mails from mailing lists can be annoying, but most retailers offer discount codes and promotions for their online stores. Mailing lists are a great way to stay updated on upcoming sales, discounts, and promotions from your favourite retailers without having to venture into the store. If you find that these e-mails are annoying, I’d recommend starting with subscribing to stores you shop at regularly.

Read reviews

I love reading customer reviews before I buy a new product. This is especially helpful when buying items online, especially because the item is not immediately tangible. I often read reviews of the product I’m interested and photographs to determine if it is the best product for me.

Start with small items

If you are new to online shopping, or have reservations about it, start with smaller items to get started. New jewellery pieces or a wallet are great places to start when shopping online for the first time.

I love trying new setting sprays. I usually set my makeup with MAC Fix+ but decided to try Urban Decay’s All-Nighter Setting Spray about two months ago. After one use, I knew this product would become an integral part of my makeup kit. Urban Decay’s All-Nighter Setting Spray is the main product I set my makeup with each day and I’ve completely fallen in love with it!

The Packaging

I adore the packaging of Urban Decay’s Setting Spray! The spray comes in a round bottle with a nozzle for easy use. The packaging itself features a sleek, matte black colour with the Urban Decay logo and the product name embossed on it. I love the swirled, light purple lettering on the bottle. This bottle is lightweight and easy to travel with.

The Mist

The weightless mist feels refreshing on the skin. It is formulated with a unique Temperature Control Technology that lowers the temperature of makeup to increase its longevity. The mist does not feel heavy when spritzed onto the skin and dries down completely when applied. It is completely transparent and does not leave any residue when applied. The product has a pleasant cooling sensation when sprayed into the skin, owing to the mist’s unique Temperature Control Technology.

Shake the bottle well before use. Hold the bottle a few inches away from the face and mist the skin 2-4 times in an X and T formation then allow to dry. I also regularly apply this product to my eyeshadow brushes before use to intensify the colour of shadows.

Urban Decay’s All-Nighter Setting Spray has revolutionized my makeup routine. The spray increases the longevity of makeup, refreshes my skin and makes my makeup look vibrant and fresh! The spray is available in multiple sizes at Sephora. The mini sized bottle retails for $19, the standard sized bottle retails for $40 and the jumbo-sized bottle retails for $50.

Do you suffer from dry, chapped lips during winter months? I find myself constantly reapplying lip balm and sugar scrubs to maintain soft, supple lips. Here are the top tips I use to keep my lips soft in colder weather!

Choose the right lip balm

Not all lip balms are created equally. Some lip balms contain ingredients like menthol and camphor which can actually dry the lips further. If you’re looking for a balm that adds extra moisture to the lips, ensure that it contains ingredients like aloe, coconut oil, and shea butter.

Buff away flakiness with a sugar scrub

You should use extra care when exfoliating your lips. If you want to eliminate extra dryness and flakiness, use a sugar scrub. Sugar crystals will gently exfoliate the lips without drying them.

Resist the urge to lick dry lips

This may seem counterintuitive, but licking dry lips may actually cause them to become further aggravated. Instead of naturally moistening the lips, try applying a moisturizing balm or mask to introduce extra moisture.

Protect your lips

It’s important to take steps to avoid dry lips in the first place. During cold winter months, try sealing moisture into your lips with a balm or lip mask. One of my favourite ways to protect my lips during the winter is by wearing a warm scarf over my mouth to prevent dryness.

Primer is a staple in my makeup kit. I wear primer underneath my makeup to smooth my skin, and to increase the longevity of the products I apply. I use a variety of primers throughout the week to create a matte, luminous, or dewy finish. I alternate between these three primers:

Urban Decay Rebound Collagen-Infused Complexion Priming Spray

I bought a travel-sized bottle of this priming spray recently, and instantly loved it! This is the first primer I’ve tried from Urban Decay and it will not be my last. The spray makes my skin feel refreshed, hydrated and soft. I apply it to my skin before makeup and my foundation and concealer appear dewy and radiant.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Smashbox’s iconic Photo Finish Primer is a staple in my makeup kit. It is lightweight, non-greasy and absorbs into my skin quickly. The primer creates a smooth base for makeup, and it helps to even my complexion before I apply foundation. I love that the silky formula of the primer translates to my skin when applied.

Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer

I adore this protective primer! It is a velvety balm that sinks into my skin and instantly makes it feel plump and smooth. The product eliminates excess oil in my skin and gives my complexion a matte finish.

Until recently, I’d never tested the iconic Better Than Sex Mascara from Too Faced. I received a sample of the mascara at Sephora earlier this season and immediately returned to the store to buy a full-sized tube! Once I began wearing this mascara, it became a staple in my makeup kit.

The Packaging

The mascara comes in a fun frosted-pink tube with the Too Faced logo and product name embossed into it. It is lightweight and travel-friendly. The mascara wand contained inside features compact, elongated bristles.

The Formula

After it is is initially applied, the mascara feels very wet and sticky. Once the product dries down it feels lightweight and dries to a matte black colour. The formula is not clumpy and it is easy to apply the product to each lash.

The Wear

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara curls my lashes easily and gives them a bold, matte black colour. The mascara wears well throughout the day, but does tend to flake with extended wear. I love that a little product goes a long way – you only need a small amount of mascara to achieve length and volume!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is a daily essential in my makeup kit! This is the only mascara I’ve worn for the last few months and it certainly does not disappoint. If you are looking for to enhance your natural lashes with mascara, I’d definitely recommend trying this mascara! Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara retails for $31 at Sephora.